Economists Conduct New Cost-Earnings Study of the Hawaii Longline Fleet

In early 2013, the PIFSC Economics Program launched a new in-person survey of Hawaii longline vessel owners and captains to obtain
cost-earnings data for the fleet. The survey is collecting information on variable costs, fixed costs, and labor costs of crew and
captain from individual vessels in the fleet based on the 2012 operating year. The survey has enjoyed a high response rate from the
fleet; as of September, PIFSC researchers had completed interviews with 96 vessel owners/owner operators out of a total of 126 active
in 2012, a response rate of 76% so far. Interviews with the remaining vessels are expected to be finished by the end of this year.

Similar studies of the Hawaii longline fleet were conducted based on the 1993, 2000, and 2005 operating years. The data collected in
these periodic cost-earnings studies are used to analyze changes in economic returns and financial profits of the fleet as they relate
to fishery trends and regulatory actions over time.